Kennedy, Kerry
Introduce Legislation to
Preserve Historic Revolutionary War Site

December 19, 2007 - 01:24 PM | by Katie-Coral Horton

Washington, DC—-Senators Edward M. Kennedy and John F. Kerry last
night introduced legislation to protect a one-of-a kind national
historic treasure, Colonel James Barrett’s Farm in Concord,
Massachusetts. The farm was a central site in the first battle of the
Revolutionary War in 1775.

Senator Kennedy said, “It’s an honor to work with Senator Kerry
to make sure this extraordinary part of the nation’s history is
permanently protected as part of our National Park System. The
Congress should pass this bill so that Barrett’s Farm is protected
for future generations.”

Senator Kerry said, “Preserving Colonel Barrett’s farm will help
future generations learn more about a critical moment in our
nation’s history, the start of the American Revolution,” Senator
Kerry said. “I am pleased to work with Senator Kennedy to preserve
this important historical area.”

Barrett’s Farm is located two miles from the famous Old North Bridge
in Concord, Massachusetts, and spans approximately five acres. The
farm is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and is
certified as a nationally significant site.

The farm belonged to Colonel James Barrett, one of the primary
figures in the first battle of the American Revolution. As commander
of the Middlesex Militia, he used his farm to store cannons, gunpowder
and other munitions. When British forces marched on Concord on April
19, 1775, their principal purpose was to search Barrett’s Farm and
confiscate the colonial militia’s weapons, but Barrett received
advance notice of the British plan and successfully hid the weapons.

The legislation authorizes a boundary adjustment of 67 acres in the
current National Park in Concord and Lincoln. The expansion doesn’t
involve a federal taking of private property. Instead, it allows the
Park Service to purchase private properties from willing sellers, such
as the local, non-profit organization Save Our Heritage, which now
owns Barrett’s Farm.

Last year, legislation sponsored by Senators Kennedy and Kerry
authorized a boundary study for the Park, to establish the suitability
and feasibility of adjusting the boundary to include Barrett’s Farm.
The study was completed earlier this year, and concluded that the
addition of Barrett’s Farm was consistent with the Park’s mission
to preserve significant historic resources, and that it would be
feasible for the Park Service to manage. The study opened the way to
the present legislation to accomplish the addition of the farm to the
Park.